But they’re still not legitimate Microsoft never intended that they would be tied to a separate component.Īs you ponder how a Win10 license might cost only USD $10 or $20, you might ask: They’re real keys and will probably activate on your system. Components such as motherboards and disk drives sometimes include a Win10 key. Note that not all “cheap” OEM licenses come from dubious websites. (Retail versions of Win10 may be transferable.) You can’t transfer it to a replacement system. But a Win10 OEM key is tied to the original PC - and only that machine.

Sample OEM product-key stickers (courtesy of Microsoft)Īnother speculated “source” is abandoned Win10 systems. (The price OEMs pay for Windows is rarely made public.)įigure 1. Sure, the OEMs purchase Windows licenses in bulk and at a significant discount, but the keys don’t have a “use by” date - so there’s no need for vendors to sell off their Win10 “inventory” at bargain-basement prices. Invariably, some commenters argue that the keys are simply hardware vendors (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) selling off excess licenses.īut that won’t hold water. My answer is always the same: “No! They’re not legitimate.” Reddit is another place where questions about cheap licenses come up - frequently. If you see one of these promotions, and you ask yourself whether they’re for real, you’ve already answered the question. In addition, I’ll share with you a legit and legal avenue for upgrading to Windows 10.įirst, some background: Woody asked me to discuss this topic because I’m quite vocal on social media when I see supposedly legitimate technology websites championing “cheap and legal” Win10 licenses - either through ads or as part of a partnership. So let’s dive into this weird phenomenon of cheap Windows 10 product keys - and shine some light on the issue. That could be the end of the discussion, but I wouldn’t want to leave you hanging. This article, written by me, originally appeared in The AskWoody PLUS Newsletter on May 25th, 2020.

Windows 10 product key cheap